وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَىٰ هَـٰذَا ٱلْوَعْدُ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـٰدِقِينَ 48
Translations
And they say, "When is [the fulfillment of] this promise, if you should be truthful?"
Transliteration
Wa yaquluna mataa hadha al-wa'd in kuntum sadiqin
Tafsir (Explanation)
The disbelievers mockingly challenge the Prophet Muhammad and the believers, demanding to know when the promised Day of Judgment will come, sarcastically suggesting that if the Muslims are truthful about this promise, they should provide evidence of its timing. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir explain that this ayah reflects the arrogance and denial of the Meccan disbelievers who rejected the message of monotheism and the certainty of the Hereafter, treating divine warnings with ridicule and defiance.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan portion of Surah Yunus, which addresses the persistent mockery and denial faced by Prophet Muhammad from the Quraysh. The surah's broader context deals with how disbelievers continuously demand signs and ridicule the message of Tawhid and the afterlife, remaining obstinate despite clear evidence presented to them.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'The Hour will be established, but I do not know when it will be' (Sahih Muslim 2953). Additionally, Surah Yunus 49 immediately follows with Allah's response that only He knows the unseen, reinforcing that knowledge of the Hour belongs exclusively to Allah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that ridicule from disbelievers is a test of faith, not evidence against the truth—certainty about divine promises does not depend on the skepticism of others. We should remain steadfast in our conviction of the Hereafter despite worldly mockery and remember that the timing of major divine events is known only to Allah.
Related Ayahs
وَيُحِقُّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْحَقَّ بِكَلِمَـٰتِهِۦ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ ٱلْمُجْرِمُونَ
And Allāh will establish the truth by His words, even if the criminals dislike it."
وَيَوْمَ نَحْشُرُهُمْ جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ نَقُولُ لِلَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوا۟ مَكَانَكُمْ أَنتُمْ وَشُرَكَآؤُكُمْ ۚ فَزَيَّلْنَا بَيْنَهُمْ ۖ وَقَالَ شُرَكَآؤُهُم مَّا كُنتُمْ إِيَّانَا تَعْبُدُونَ
And [mention, O Muḥammad], the Day We will gather them all together - then We will say to those who associated others with Allāh, "[Remain in] your place, you and your 'partners.'" Then We will separate them, and their "partners" will say, "You did not used to worship us,
وَلِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَّسُولٌ ۖ فَإِذَا جَآءَ رَسُولُهُمْ قُضِىَ بَيْنَهُم بِٱلْقِسْطِ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ
And for every nation is a messenger. So when their messenger comes, it will be judged between them in justice, and they will not be wronged.
قُلْ هَلْ مِن شُرَكَآئِكُم مَّن يَهْدِىٓ إِلَى ٱلْحَقِّ ۚ قُلِ ٱللَّهُ يَهْدِى لِلْحَقِّ ۗ أَفَمَن يَهْدِىٓ إِلَى ٱلْحَقِّ أَحَقُّ أَن يُتَّبَعَ أَمَّن لَّا يَهِدِّىٓ إِلَّآ أَن يُهْدَىٰ ۖ فَمَا لَكُمْ كَيْفَ تَحْكُمُونَ
Say, "Are there of your 'partners' any who guides to the truth?" Say, "Allāh guides to the truth. So is He who guides to the truth more worthy to be followed or he who guides not unless he is guided? Then what is [wrong] with you - how do you judge?"